Composite structure and raft for gas turbine engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9538643-B2
Application number	US-201414245221-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2014
Priority date	May 3, 2013
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

A composite structure is provided. The structure is formed of rigid composite material in which non-metallic continuous fibers reinforce a polymer matrix. The continuous fibers are electrically conductive. The structure has electrodes electrically connected to the continuous fibers. The composite material contains one or more insulating barriers which electrically divide the structure so that a first portion of the material in electrical contact with one of the electrodes can be held at a different electrical potential to a second portion of the material in electrical contact with the other electrode. In use, an electrical unit can be provided to electrically bridge the first and second portions of the material such that electrical signals can be transmitted between the electrodes and the electrical unit via the continuous fibers.

First claim

I claim:

1. A gas turbine engine comprising a composite structure formed of rigid composite material in which non-metallic continuous fibres reinforce a polymer matrix, the continuous fibres being electrically conductive, and the structure having electrodes electrically connected to the continuous fibres,
wherein the composite material contains one or more insulating barriers which electrically divide the structure so that a first portion of the material in electrical contact with one of the electrodes can be held at a different electrical potential to a second portion of the material in electrical contact with another one of the electrodes, whereby, in use, an electrical unit can be provided to electrically bridge the first and second portions of the material such that electrical signals can be transmitted between the electrodes and the electrical unit via the continuous fibres.

2. A gas turbine engine according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical signals are at least one of power and communication signals.

3. A gas turbine engine according to claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive continuous fibres are the primary reinforcement fibres of the polymer matrix.

4. A gas turbine engine according to claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive continuous fibres are the sole reinforcement fibres of the polymer matrix.

5. A gas turbine engine according to claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive continuous fibres are carbon fibres.

6. A gas turbine engine according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more insulating barriers are formed by layers of further reinforcing continuous fibres.

7. A gas turbine engine according to claim 1 , further including a power source which supplies electrical power to the electrodes and can thereby power the electrical unit.

8. A gas turbine engine according to claim 1 , further including one or more electrical units, which electrically bridge the first and second portions of the material.

9. A gas turbine engine according to claim 8 , including a plurality of the electrical units, each unit providing an electrode in electrical contact with the first portion and an electrode in electrical contact with the second portion, whereby electrical signals can be transmitted between the electrical units via the continuous fibres.

10. A gas turbine engine according to claim 1 , which is for use on a vehicle.

11. A rigid raft for a gas turbine engine comprising a composite structure formed of rigid composite material in which non-metallic continuous fibres reinforce a polymer matrix, the continuous fibres being electrically conductive, and the structure having electrodes electrically connected to the continuous fibres,
wherein the composite material contains one or more insulating barriers which electrically divide the structure so that a first portion of the material in electrical contact with one of the electrodes can be held at a different electrical potential to a second portion of the material in electrical contact with another one of the electrodes, whereby, in use, an electrical unit can be provided to electrically bridge the first and second portions of the material such that electrical signals can be transmitted between the electrodes and the electrical unit via the continuous fibres, and
wherein the raft has at-least one of an electrical system in which metallic electrical conductors are embedded in the composite material and a fluid system embedded in the composite material.

12. A rigid raft for a gas turbine engine according to claim 11 , comprising the electrical system in which metallic electrical conductors are embedded in the composite material, and further comprising:
a first electrical unit that electrically bridges the first and second portions of the material; and
a second electrical unit that is electrically connected to the embedded metallic connectors, wherein:
the first electrical unit requires a lower operating power than the second electrical unit.

Assignees

• Rolls Royce Plc

Inventors

• Zizzo Claudio

Classifications

• C08K3/04 Primary

  Carbon · CPC title

• F02C7/00

  Features, components parts, details or accessories, not provided for in, or of interest apart form groups F02C1/00 - F02C6/00; Air intakes for jet-propulsion plants (controlling F02C9/00) · CPC title

• F05D2300/603

  Composites; e.g. fibre-reinforced · CPC title

• F01D25/24

  Casings (modified for heating or cooling F01D25/14); Casing parts, e.g. diaphragms, casing fastenings (casings for rotary machines or engines in general F16M {; special arrangements in stators dealing with breaking-off of part of rotor F01D21/045}) · CPC title

• F01D5/282

  Selecting composite materials, e.g. blades with reinforcing filaments · CPC title